HYDE CHESHIRE

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Thursday, 28 October 2010

Greenfield St School for Boys. UPDATE

This post just keeps on goingWe will update as we get pictures and such like sent in.

The above picture as been sent to us by John T. it's from around 1960,... ten years before I first walked through the school gate.. when I was a first year, I was one of only two wearing short pants.... I had more fights in the first two weeks than the rest of the years put together.. John's picture is also of interest as it shows the House Badges.. Anyone care to name them?

HOW THE SCHOOL LOOKED

December 12th 1929 saw the opening of Greenfield St School for Boys in Hyde. This was the school where the boys from Hyde, who were not going to Hyde Grammar School, usually went. Sadly, all that remains of the school are stories & memories. It was demolished to make way for the new Asda Store which was built around 2001 ,after Hyde Technology school was favoured as the school to send boys aged 11-16 to. A new Greenfield Primary School opened on Queen Street for children aged 4 -10.

The school motto was ASPIRE!

Great posting Nancy... here is a list of a few of the teacher that I can remember... it would be good to here any story's about and from them.

Mr Grabner P.E. Played for Hyde United..... I used to go to watch him play so I could call 'HIM' useless for a change.

Mr Partridge P.E Ronnies Gradners Sidekick.
Mr Mellor Science
Dr Doom...? Science However he never killed someone is beyond me. Mr. Wedster
Mr Grimes Music Known as Porky Grimes
Mr Beasley English Drank in the Bush Inn
Mr Peace Art I thought he was great and I've had a drink or two with him since.

There was a lanky blond chap who was very fond of a sly and not so sly drink... Another English teacher who was excellent but his name escapes me.. he also taught at Strangeways Prison. ( Before you ask.. Yes he did teach me there )

I'm sure there's others I should know but can not think of at the moment.... It would be great to hear some storys about and from them..

We have been lucky enough to have been sent this 1976 3rd year football team sent in by Peter Maugham....

Peter has this to say... " I've attached a pic of the football team, pretty sure this was the 3rd Year, probably taken in 1976. The lad with the question mark I remember now, he was called Roland Evans."

91 comments:

Ah the seat of learning from my youth! Have many happy / unhappy memories of my schooldays. Some of the teachers back then would have been jailed now for their treatment of pupils, but we didn't know any different and it didn't seem to harm us too much. Well not really!

I went for the first 3 years then left to work on Ashton Market... I did turn in now and then for art and woodwork.I have to agree that certain teachers there were bullies. I was caned many times for doing nothing but being in sight of the wrong teacher.. I remember how scared I felt when I first refused to take the cane and the look of hate on the teachers face... I didn't get caned that day but was slapped about the head... I left the classroom and smashed the teachers head lights on his car. I then went to the head master and told him what happened.. It was a while before any teacher told me to hold my hand out again.. Saying all that I liked the school as such, but do think it let many down with their teaching... I left without being able to read or write to a decent standard... and my maths were then and still are now not that good. I have many many memories from here and might write a few down again.. ha!

Great Stuff ,Tom! Re the Art Teacher - Duncan thinks he might have been called Mr Webster or was that Dr Doom? . He also thinks Mrs Casey was an English teacher. I'd love to hear your stories - School - best days of your life! :)

Cheers Nancy tell Duncan thanks.. He is of course right about Mrs Casey.. and I think Webster was Dr. Doom.. the Art Teacher as just come to me and was Mr Peace... I'll amend the posting.Dr. Doom was always blowing stuff up... he blew a tin box up once that smashed windows and blew some glass lampshades to bits all over us... I saw him set fire to Tony Collins and then walk back to his desk and laugh as Tony was jumping about trying to put himself out.. That was quite funny to see though... He once set fire to a metal litter bin to show us how to put a fire out safely... the towel he used had just been used to soak up some spilt chemicals.. it flared up and burnt is eye brows... he was already bald or his head would have lit up as well.... that was very funny... I had to stopped writing this half way through because I waslaughing so much thinking of the nut case.

There's a load of story's about KG Jones.... he really was poorly in the head... I once saw him put a lads head in a school desk then bang the lid down a few times... that lad is now a localcouncilor... seems there was damage done after all.. ;o).He took us out for walks at the drop of an hat... once we were in Motram I think... we were supposed to be going in a sweet shop.... but the shop door was shut and on the other side of the shop window... the door he went through which was open was to the house next door.. we all walked in on a women putting her husbands dinner out... KG Jone explained his mistake then told us all to gather round and see this sight of domestic bliss... the women told him to bugger off out as her husband had to go back to work when he'd eaten his dinner... The poor chap was dumbfounded.. sat there with a forkful of food in mid air staring.. We all left and Tony Collins was eating a slab of cake he's nicked off the table... ha!.... It was either Eddie Lanigan or Pete Smith had an orange from the bowl.... and Roy Knowles grabbed some sweets.

Another story about K.G. Jones..I said before he would take us out for a walk at the drop of a hat.. as long as he had put his bet on. I recall him taking us by train to I think it was Charlsworth... that area anyway.. and then we walked up to Coombes Rocks.. At that time you could walk right up to the rocks.... he told us not to mess about and climb... Of course we did mess and we did climb and he was going madder and madder... in the end he was screaming abuse that loud the sheep ran off.. his voice was booming and echoing around the rocks... Unfortunately it was at this time Tony Collins got stuck and could not get down... K.G. was shouting for him to get down... Tony was shouting he couldn't... K.G. snapped completely and started throwing rocks at Tony screaming ... 'I'll get you down boy' How he didn't hit Tony was a miracle... rocks and stones were bouncing of the rocks right next to him.. The out come was that Tony scrabbled down and then jumped to safety... it was just one of the many 'snaps' old K.G. had.

Going back to the art teacher Mr Peace... at Captain Clark's Bridge on the canal he could and would do on request stand on the side of the tow path and jump across the canal... A proper standing jump... we could all more or less jump the canal at that point but we'd need to run and jump... We'd call him Spring Heeled Jack.. Google that name, it makes good reading... ;o)

How is this for a coincidence... the phone rung just before and a voice from the past was on the other end.. Tony Collins... now I know Tony still lives in Hyde and I do see him about now and then but it as been a while since I had a call from him.. I told him he had been mentioned on here and on Facebook...... he was well pleased. We had a good chuckle about K.G. Jones... and he reminded me about this one...

Same day as Tony was attacked with rocks while stuck on Coombes Rocks, Tony recalls that we all had to walk around the hillside and make our way to the top.... K.G. had the habit of walking on the hills in just is baggy underpants... they were similar to loose legged boxers... but still had the Y Front bit. .... not a good sight the best of times, and the pair he had on this day were well past their best with a hole in the back... We had stopped to have dinner... K.G. was stood on a boulder and started to point out landmarks... such as the airport, Jodrell Bank... Manchester.. then he was naming the hills Bleaklow and so on... he turned around and the hole in the back of his pants had grown.. he then said 'Over there is the backside of Kinder Scout' it was too much, how could I resist... 'Sir the only backside we can see is yours' we all rolled about laughing... I was grabbed by the neck and thrashed but it was so funny I never felt it... well not much.

Fabulous stories there, Tom! I wonder what the eduacation authorities would make of his half naked srolls today? He'd be arrested for indecency! haha !....Dunc was telling me about KG and his underpants strolls and he said do you remember KG always asking bird questions and the winner got a lolly- usually Dunc ! Glad to hear Tony is round and about - I do see him occasionally.D also said was the Art teacher called "Art" Howard?

Well done Dunc... at least one of us has kept his memory.. I've said all that about K.G. but I would also like to point out he 'was' well liked by us all... he would treat us all to sweets, and stuff.... every Autumn he would bring in Apples from his garden. Ask Dunc if he was on the bus to Alton Towers when the top deck had a branch of a tree come ripping through the roof? We were all singing You can't go to heaven.... on Beaky's Nose.... Because Beakys Nose... It's full of crows.... that was of course aimed at the Science teacher ... Beaky Mellor..

And ask Dunc if he remembers the story about Ronnie Grabner catching two lads.... who will go un-named (as such) in the showers... One was caught saying Faster Barry Faster... ha!

Of course Grabner should of kept this to himself... but Greenie being Greenie.. he didn't.

This sure brought back memories Tom and Nancy. I remember KG one day in the school hall, think it might have been end of term and we were watching a movie as a treat. A table of Bangladeshi boys were chattering amongst themselves like you do, and KG asked them to shut up. They didn’t hear him and KG ‘snapped’. His ‘Snaps’ used to be spectacular hey Tom! He went OFF and picked up the table with six or seven boys around it and threw the lot out into the corridor through the swinging doors. God it was funny. KG often used to roll up his sleeves prior to doing battle then he would attack! I also remember the infamous walks with him, most times we would be at the back lighting a fag or disrupting wildlife on Werneth Low. Happy days.I remember a music teacher Baksheesh, from Persia as it was then – Iran now.....he was a psychopath who caned me relentlessly. When he turned his back to write on the blackboard, we all used to give him the ‘V’ sign. HE also used to make us sound out the notes in music.......A – B – C – D etc....a tuneless din if you ask me.There was a Mr Host Madsen, an American, who was I think history, we used to call the religious teacher Josh, but I don’t recall that he was called Pangbourne, my memory bank is not as it was.....and I thought porky Grimes taught chemistry not music. Also Miss Mcpherson used to teach science, and Mr Dereck Souter was a mate of my Dad and used to give me extra homework as a treat. Also Mr Scott the English teacher was a top bloke and we all had a crush on Miss Casey. She was hot! We used to call Mr Jenner Jasper and if you could get him started on bikes he would go on and on for hours about Coventry Eagles and Eddie Merx. A good bloke.We nicknamed Mr Christie the Headmaster ‘Crunch’ for some reason....I was never sure why. Mrs Morton, the school secretary used to let us ring the bell now and then. Am racking my brain trying to think of the blond haired teacher and I can see him as clear as day but cannot remember his name. Am working on it! There was also a guy called Norman who was a contempary of KG. He used to have a maroon Wolseley I think and once gave me and Phil Dunn a lift home after school. He once said to us in a serious voice ‘Who is that ape – like boy’ about one of our classmates whose digestive system had polluted the atmosphere somewhat. He was really funny (Norman) without actually wanting to be. A bit like that Harry Enfield character, Timothy Nice But Dim. I also remember a teacher we used to call Chinny Boo....cant recall his real name. One day we were in the prefab classrooms at the back of the gym when it started raining. I started singing ‘Raindrops Keep Falling on my Head’. ‘Okay, who’s the singer’ said Chinny Boo! I called out ‘Sacha Distel’ which I thought was quite quick and quite funny. Not chinny boo....I got severely reprimanded! What is wrong with these teachers....no sense of humour! Anyhow, that’s me for now. Love your work Tom and Nancy.....keep it up!

Now you mention it I recall a Baksheesh.. The English teacher called Mr Scott is the same one who taught in Strangways.. Chinny Boo rings a bell to.. I cracked up at your remark.. just the thing I'd have said.. :O)...

Mr Spinks.. was he the blond chap? I must have been the only one in Greeny that 'didn't' fancy Miss Casey... and you bought back many memories of Jenner and bikes.... I'm sure it was Jenner who encourage Graham Hilton (Moggy.. RIP ) to take up cycling.. he went on to win many races and was a team rider... gaining sponsorship deals... I recall he trained in Malta for a while and was driving around in a TR 7, I'm sure another lad or two from Greeny got well into cycling.. with the help from Jenner and Ceth Duckworths at the bottom of Hyde Lane..

Just reposted this so any of you ex-Greeny lads could have a look at the football team.....Kong is on there and Diddy,Gemmy ,Lacky, Basty (R.I.P.) ,Hank ,Tony Lee.....add other names if you remember them. :)

Look at Kong.. he looks well tough there... One of my Aunty's married a China man called Kong, so you never know I might be related.. I hope someone can come along with all the names Nancy.. I'm sure Ronnie had that kit on all the time..

Is it not odd that such a formidible building as Greeny can only have a life of 70 odd years? Did it become that obsolete that demolition was the only option? Or did money talk and the real estate value was more of a consideration as the building occupied a prime town centre site.

I remember Mr Keates, liked a drink at lunch with Mr Blondin?(metalwork). Also recall Mr Wainwright who taught Tech Drawing, nice bloke. I remember Norman Wilkinson when he first started, his class was a riot, he used to run around clouting everybody with a yellow plastic cricket back whilst everybody sang Norman w*****r, Norman W****r, la-la-la-la-la-la, bloody funny. I remember he took us on a walk along the River Tame, half the class sailed off on Polystyrene rafts, great days! I loved my time at Greeny, even the painful parts. Most feared floggers as I recall were Mr Souter (I can testify, I couldn't sit down!), Mr Robinson who had names for all his canes.

"Mr Spinks.. was he the blond chap? I must have been the only one in Greeny that 'didn't' fancy Miss Casey... and you bought back many memories of Jenner and bikes.... I'm sure it was Jenner who encourage Graham Hilton (Moggy.. RIP ) to take up cycling.. he went on to win many races and was a team rider... gaining sponsorship deals... I recall he trained in Malta for a while and was driving around in a TR 7, I'm sure another lad or two from Greeny got well into cycling.. with the help from Jenner and Ceth Duckworths at the bottom of Hyde Lane"It was rightly pointed out to me I got Grahams surname wrong it was of course 'Harrison' .... thanks Ste for pointing this out.

There was a woodwork teacher called george browning who also taught the violin, he used to lend them out I borrowed one took it home and me and my elder brother had a fight at the top of stairs and he threw it down, i put it back in its case and took it back to school in pieces nothing was ever said.and Mr Jones was an english teacher and i started backing horses from 12 years old sitting in Jimmy sefton's shop betting night racing when doors were locked. anyway i was in gus demmy's picking out horses when Mr Jones came next to me asked for a tip then went back to school when he saw me he slapped me about the head and said never let me catch you in there again Barry

When I was fifteen I used to meet my grandad during school dinnertime and we would go for a quick pint (me in uniform)in a pub which was located where you get on the M67 opposite Barry Hetts and we used to regularly see Blonden stood at the bar who used to give us a quick nod.Keates once gave me a good kicking around the science lab floor for dissing his wife.Happy days though.

Hi there Anonymous..You were one of many with a brick ready to throw at me back then.... main thing is you didn't... ha!.. They were happy days.... if you see me about Hyde stop me and say hello.... but no bricks this time.. ;o)

I think I was in Wolf, not that I took much notice back then.. I recall my first sports day on Walker Lane playing fields... it was a nightmare.. running around a track being shouted at... 'do it for the house' do it for the house'... well I did it for the house the next year... I stayed at home and wagged it.. ;o)Thanks Jon for naming them...

I attended Greenfield Primary up to 1972. My parents had the shop on the corner of Syddall Street, and my brother attended Greenfield boys. What I remember about you lot was occasionally seeing groups of you being frisked in your school yard. I don't know if it had something to do with the times when some of you thought it would be fun to throw compasses at us little folk in our school yard. I recall at least one time when someone hit their mark! I remember a Nick Hunter from Syddall St and Steven Hough sounds familiar too. Below you we had a sadistic Headmistress until Mrs Shepherd took over, and an equally sadistic teacher called Miss Oldham who used every excuse to slap or smack me she could find - We found it was the older teachers who were quite happy to get physical. The only male teacher we had was Mr. Nixon, who kept a big plimsoll in his cupboard and often took it out to threaten the boys with - he used it too. Though never on us girls. I think he would have been quite at home upstairs with your teachers. Miss Oldham wouldn't have been out of place either.

Anon.. thanks for this comment... it reminded me that it had the primary school... I'd had let that slip from my thoughts... feel free to send it any pictures from then... and it would be great to feature the shop if you have a picture handy...

Thanks for setting up this site. I went to Greenfield Primary & then onto Leigh St for Girls, I wasn't allowed upstairs! I moved away from Hyde at the age of 13 & haven't got any pictures of Greenfield, therefore it was a pleasure to find this. Thank you

Hi all great site,I also went to greenie and left in 1977.The blonde tall guy you refer to was Mr Keates(moon man),always uses to wear a velvet jacket taught technology to us, once took the jacket off in summer to reveal just a shirt cuff and no sleeve! it was the era of loud coloured nylon shirts and he had melted it whilst ironing so just cut the sleeve out.Also KG Jones once gave us a length of lead pipe and told us to go weigh it in at Freddie Pyes, only for Christie annouse at assembly the next day that this had been stolen from the toilets. Keep up the good work--John Heaton

I remember Robinson the Woodwork teacher. A sadist if ever I met one. He,d cane you at the drop of a hat. He caned the whole class one day. We were in the library with Ms Topping, someone was whistling. she said it was one of us we all denied it. We pointed out that it could have been the builders outside, she said it wasn't and it was one of us and she'd keep us in during the break. Of course bow legged Robinson walked passed, he sensed blood. He came in and asked Topping the problem. He then said if the culprit didnt own up he'd cane us all after school. He wouldn't believe us about the builder. No one owned up of course and Robinson duly caned us 32 of us once on each hand.There were a few s and m merchants, Wainwright,Housey but Robinson looked for it and relished itTony Husband

Hi TonyThanks for commenting... the three you mentioned I once over heard talking about a book they had running on who flogged the most in a term time.... I never took the cane from that day... I was dragged around the classroom once or twice .. but tipping up a few tables and screaming abuse and calling them bullies seemed to do the trick... the were well out of order at that time.... Rose Tinted Glasses... wasn't school days great.... ha! NO!

Hi Tom,I attended Greenfield Street and finished up in 1979.I have plenty of memories of the place, I can't say I look back with fondness, I guess it was a bit like Tom Brown's Schooldays.I loathed sport at school and especially when we were trapped in the school yard. The only sport I enjoyed was the cross country as it got me out of the school. Even when we had football during the session I would opt to run along the canal to Woodley usually with a few others who whould then sit under Captain Clarkes Bridge and smoke while I'd run there and back. Our teachers were Mr Grabner and Mr Partridge.I remember, years after leaving school, I still ran long distance, a lot with Ron Hills son Graham. I was running up Joel Lane and saw Mr Grabner in his old Beatle (I think) and he stopped for a chat, I think he was so happy that at least one of his old pupils was still doing sport. 20 Years later, I still run, over the other side of the world now.I remember Mr Wilkinson the man so fascinated with dung beetles, but in hindsight he was probably right.Our music teacher was Mr Backsheysh (not sure about spelling) a savage Iranian who loved corporal punishment.Poor Mrs Frere (?) our poor terrorised French teacher who would regularly run from the classroom.

Hi Neil... great bit of input... thank you. Well Ron Hill is still running... and Ronnie Grabner was still involved with school sports around 5 years back or so at Hyde Technology School (what was Flowery Field).. I will ask about and see what I can come up with..

That's great Tom, I'm having a holiday back in Hyde (yes, strange place to go for a holiday) and it would be interesting to catch up with him.My mum was the dinner lady at the junior school for years, Mrs Donaldson you may remember her if you were around the other side of the school.

Hi TomCan believe the corporal punishment book keeping. Did that crowd go and live in South America after they retired. Some of us rebelled one time ,sawing up the canes of the bullies and leaving them on their chairs. There were some excellent teachers to though, Mr Howard/Howarth the young art teacher who introduced me the wonders of art through his enthusiasm and energy and Mr Hindley the English teacher , Mr Atree seemed a very kind man too. Then there was Mr Williams ,history a welsh man who died early from cancer. I liked Mr Robinson maths and deputy head.cheers Tony

Just a snap memory of Mr Jones and his temper. He took us an a rambling break around Dovedale. He was fascinating to follow. He didn't rely on books for information, he'd stop the locals and ask them to tell us stories about the area. It was great being out in the country listening to old folks telling their memories. We were staying at a Youth Hostel somewhere and there was a party from another school, scousers I think. Any way one of them put a bunch of nettles in one of our lads sleeping bags.When the lad climbed in (think he was one of the Mellors) he screamed out in pain when skin touched nettle. Jonesy came dashing in,we pointed out the grinning culprits. Jones flew over at them dragged them both by the hair from the bunk bed , the top one crashing to the floor.He dragged the lads at speed sceaming and petrified and they ere 4th formers to the door of the dormitory and out into the night. Not sure what happened to them but we all skulked to our beds a bit shocked and a bit scared. The look in Jonesys face was frightening. Having said that , they were scousers and they had done wrong

Neil the last time I hear anything of him he was involved with sports at Hyde Technology School.. it might be worth getting in touch with them... I include here a link to the school. http://www.hydetech.org.uk/contact/

Hi Tony.. hope you are well, are you still into your photography? I always got on with KG Jones... but from very early on I knew there was a underlined madness to him... I recall one lad in the first year.. he would have been 11, possibly 12... I think he was a touch cheeky with KG... but not in a very bad way. KG flew across the room and grabbed him by the neck... and as true as I'm sat here now typing this... he put the lads head in a desk and banged the lid down on his head a few times. Proper lost it he did... that lad is now a local councillor, I should think he will remember that happening for the rest of his life. ha! Saying that there's one or three politicians that I'd like to do that to today.. ha!

Hi TomWho was looking after us in those rose tinted summer days, sadists and psychopaths by the sound of it. We just took this behaviour as the norm. I remember in 63 we went on a cruise with the school around Portugal and Morocco,There was a bunch of us with about 4 teachers. We were away for a week I think, we landed down south and were coached back to Greenie. We got back there at 3am. The teachers who had parked their cars at the school cleared off home and left 30 or so kids from 11 to 15 in the centre of Hyde at 3 am. We all took turns to ring our parents from the call boxes near the town hall, waking them up to come and get us. My dad was fuming as were others , they stormed the school next day. Totally weird

I can well imagine that Tony.. I was reminded of a school trip to Heathrow Airport.... we left Hyde mid-evening and arrived at Heathrow in the early hours... we were told to go out and spot planes.... I know the group I was with did not see a teacher until the morning... and that was only because we got stuck in a lift and had to be rescued... ha! On this same trip another thing I recall was one of the lads... he was a Mellor.. but not from the Gee Cross farming family... His parents lived in the lodge at Hyde Cemetery, just inside the gates off Stockport Road. A few of the lads were very tired and went to sleep near some heating ducts.. this lad slept with his eyes open.... it well freaked us out seeing where he lived...

Tom i havent seen or spoken to you in years Mate but came across the site whilst looking for some pics of greenie to show my lad,The site is brilliant and has made me laugh from start to finishI will try to remmember some of the times at greenie and post themCheers Tom All the best Martin Susca

hello tom the r.e teacher was called mr picbourneexcellent comments about greeny school there was also a woodwork teacher who used to sneak into the stockroom for a drink cant remember his name also when the woodwork department moved into the old fire station we used to try and slide down the pole and set the siren off on the roof happy days

Hi SteveI didn't know the woodwork room moved into the Fire Station... can you recall when... and do you know when the school was pulled down?I know the old Dole Office was above the art, tech-drawing and the 'dunce class' ( I was in there when I bothered to turn up...)

hello tom i left greeny in 1976 and it was about 2 years before that some of the science and woodwork went over to the fire station the teachers over there were mr grimes and mr earith and mr keats.not sure when the school was demolished but the school sold the fire station to a night club in the end

Hello there Anonymous,Sad news indeed... he taught me maths... well he tried I was not very good at schooling... he was a good teacher... quite strict but fare... you knew where you were with him... and he was consistent in the way he taught and conducted himself.I can not bring to mind the name of his son... he would be in his early 50s now.... Thank you for letting us know.... I'm sure when others read this they will remember him with respect and fondness.

I attended Greenfield from 1957 to 1960. Yes, Wainright Tech drawing & woodwork. He slapped me so hard across my face in woodwork one day for leaving a plane on it's blade I shot across the room at full speed. Still to this day I have never left a plane on it's blade :-))

Another woodwork teacher we had was called "George" we called him Kawter George as he couldn't pronounce "quarter". Then there was Horrocks for music a kind & decent man, Herman the German for PT a masochistic little shit used to hit you with a black plimsol with a Swastika chalked on it so the imprint would end up on your backside. Redfern for science another decent man but wielded a thick cane ferociously. Then we had an Indian guy we affectionately called "inky" before all this PC stuff came into being.

I couldn't wait to leave the place. I hated school with a passion and at 14 left to go sell shoes at Cable footwear (opposite Woolworths).

Thank you Tom for a most interesting site & blog. I see you mention earlier the Mellor family. Tommy Mellor (the farming family) was in my class at Greenfield. We all went on a school trip to Llandudno and sailed on the St Tudo. He got left behind when we disembarked & sailed off into the sunset!!! Ha ha ha looks as thought the Mellors were famous for getting lost although this one certainly did not have his eyes open on that trip :-))

Terry as emailed this comment and I'm very pleased he as shared his memories with us

"This is my first contact with you regarding memories of Greenfield Street school. I am now approaching my 70 birthday, Greenfield Street was the only school I attended starting in 1946 when I was 3-4 years old and was in the nursery class, I can remember being put to bed in the afternoon on fold up canvas beds. There were three classes in the infants standard1,2,& 3. those classes used one half of the front playground adjacent to Greenfield Street. From standard 4,5&6 you were in the primary school and used the other half of the playground and also entered the school using the bottom gate. There was along covered walkway that ran the full length of the school that separated the infant and primary school classrooms from the secondary school playground,this walkway provided access to classrooms and the assembly hall on one side and was open to the elements and separated only by a metal fence to the 'big school' playground. My final teacher in standard 6 was Miss Gotheridge who was very disappointed that I did not pass the 11 plus exam to go to Hyde Grammar School, but to be honest I was quite happy to 'go upstairs'and still be at Greenfield Street. So in 1953 I started in 1a at the secondary school,I was put in Scott house (green) because I had an older cousin who had been in Scott, my first form teacher was Mr Broderick who must have been in his mid twenties and looked a lot younger than the other teachers.Mr Walkden was the headmaster, and Mr Mellor was deputy head and science master. Other teachers were Mr Howes,Mr Hartely, Mr Heppinstall,Mr Browning and Mr Horrocks.I could write about so many memories of my school days at Greenfield Street and will write again soon"

Greenfield Mr Host History teacher lesson sinking the Bismark method Mr Host running around the room pretending to be a swordfish byplane. Mr Keetes MOONEY beating me up with several hard punches for caling him MOONEY. Mr Grimes with a concoction called essense of pigsty he claimed was a new fragrence sprayinging everyone. Midget metal work teacher Mr Winfield even with his stacks. Norman Wilkenson yard supervision the one person sang NORMAN W23323KR another sang NORMAN W£"£$$"£R then a few other sang NA NA NA NA NA NA and eventually the whole school singing it. Mrs Casey going bright red before canning anyone. Mr Jones on a trip shouting tio the class 'if you want to go with Mr Wilkinsons F&^%^&ING SH!T go with him if not come with me. Mer Robinson with a locked room in the loft where he kept his model train set all set up. Ms Frei with all the class sitting in hats and coasts because they wouldn't turn the heating on. Mr Piece with his cupboard of canes pumps angle iron toi hit you with and stating take your pick. Then jumping from four steps up on the stairs to cane your hands. Mr Evans on TV in a barber shop quarter. And Mr Howse or Dr Howse crushing your hands or neck, and jibbing you and generally making you look like an oaf in class. Mr Harrision broke his leg when sking and didn't take kindly to me calling him hopalong got a punch for that as well And if Ronnie Grabner was still teaching PE five years ago he must have the elixiur of youth. Mrs Creedy art teacher. Mr Holmes the science teacher in his white coat. Them smelly budgies near the RE room. Lastkly Master Bates the PE teacher what a total goon totally useless

For some strange reason I was sat at work today and just googled "Greenfield St School for Boys". I don't know why, I don't do blogging or dwell much on the past or wonder what such and such are up to now. But, for some reason I did.

About six weeks ago I was in Hyde for the first time in many years and went to the supermarket that now stands on our school site. It felt quite odd it's over 20 years since I was last in that part of Hyde. Maybe this experience lead me to today's decision?

This site popped up and it was as if someone was writing my personal school days. I just couldn't stop reading and laughing and remembering what a surreal set of teachers and circumstances Greenfield St presented to us as kids.

If anybody asks me about school. I just say it was rubbish. I hated every minute of it. Looking at this site and remembering, I realise it probably had a bigger and more positive effect on me than I imagined. I feel quite fond of some these teachers now and remember going on my first skiing holiday with Ron Grabner etc and being quite good at it which gave me a confidence that I had not had at school up to that point. These experiences flow in into your adult life and I'm sure have an effect on the type person we all end up being.

Anyway, I remember Mr Holmes the Science Teacher (I think after I left he became Head Master) demonstrating friction on one of my mates. I'm sure you remember the science lab had long mahogany desks that ran the full width of the classroom. Mr Holmes told my mate (OK it was Andy Shaw) to lie down at one end of the desk on him back. Mr Holmes then grabbed his hair and pulled hard to drag him along the desk. Andy was screaming in pain and Mr Holmes very calmly said "of course if friction did not exist this boy would feel no pain as the resistance between him and the desk would make me pulling him very easy. As it is friction does exist and so it he feels the pain caused by friction" Genius! I thought after pissing myself with laughter along with the rest of the class. I have never forgotten the demo or the pain of friction.

I'll keep looking at this site and will recall some other "experiences" from our beloved school.

More thoughts on Greeny Mr Host in his natty blue boots or jesus pumpos and driving around in a Beetle. Mrs Dunder something totally useless maths teacher. Mr Keats setting the fire siren off in the fire station. A lad doing photography printing porn pictures for sale.That tiny little tuck shop. Mr Evans playing the Piano and looking over the top of it to shout at people to sing and moving the pianio forward as he did then pushing table pupils over onto the floor. Holding your hand out to be caned by Norman only to move it when he did. That got him foaming in his class that only ever seemd to talk about dung beetles. Two pupils banging ten bells out of each other in the Gym with the blessing of Ronney because they had a disagreement. Smokers alley off Vulcan street. Throwing snowballs at the stasff room way up high only to be caught by bandy peering out and shouting to wait outside his class to be caned.Putting a match in Normans board rubber so it set on fire when jhe used it. Happy days I think

I only attended Greenfield Street senior school for eighteen months between September '64 to Christmas'65, then moved on, but can remember my time there like it was yesterday. My schoolmates included, Philip Racz, John Snelson, Jimmy Lovery, Alan Williams, Lincoln Leech, Jimmy Etchells, Steven Council, Peter Douglas, Ian Fyfe, Ian Redfearn, Richard Shepley, Alan West, year above me...(went on to play professional football with Burnley and Luton), George Racz, Martin Iball, Peter Torkington, "Hammy" Hamilton, all from memory, it was a long time ago.....

Teachers included three psychopaths who would be locked up these days, Robinson (woodwork)..(.used to keep his cane in linseed oil) Robinson (maths) and Wainwright..(tech drawing)...they would "flog" you for the slightest reason, forgetting homework etc....

Hi AlanYou went to Greenie a few years before me but the names you mention are mostly familiar to me… George and Phil Racz… along with their other bother Ste are still about… Phil as a B&B in Anglesey.. Jimmy Etchels is a good friend of mine and now lives in Wales . As for your teachers I certainly agree about those three… You named a Mr Hawkins he taught Metal work.. he was my uncle… he made all the class say over and over again Rough File, Smooth File, Draw File, Polish ..

Yeah, I caught up with Phil Racz a few months ago, I found him on facebook, I know he has a nice B&B on Anglesey, it was good to hear from him, yes I remember his older brother Steven, the family had an Engineering business, (still going I believe). I spoke with George on the net a few years back.

I remember Jimmy E, he was a right star....say hello from me I can picture him now,... my Dad use to own Hyde Sports Centre on the corner of Newton Street and Market Street in the mid late sixties, till we sold it to another family member when we moved down to Bournemouth in '72. Another classmate I remember was David Burgoine "Buggy".

As you may know, Alan West went on to play for Luton Town, and is now a minister in this church in the town.

http://www.lcf.biz/

He was a great footballer, I used to play in the same team as him at Greenie as a twelve year old.

We used to trudge up to Walker Lane playing fields for games/football, but I see it is now a housing estate.

I remember Mr Hawkins, still have the small trowel I made in class in '65.......:-)

The "lanky blond chap who was very fond of a sly and not so sly drink" - from the list of teacher's names in the article - wasn't Mr Keats was it? He was the woodwork teacher in early 80s who used to have a wooden chisel handle called 'Eric' that he used to throw at misbehaving pupils.

Thanks for setting up this site. I went to Greenfield Primary & then onto Leigh St for Girls, I wasn't allowed upstairs! I moved away from Hyde at the age of 13 & haven't got any pictures of Greenfield, therefore it was a pleasure to find this. Thank you

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Hi Tom and Co.I`m sure the Blonde haired teacher who liked a drink was Mr Keates who taught woodwork and technology, we nicknamed him Carnival Keates, he had a habit of putting your tie in a vice on the woodwork bench and then flogging you with a rip saw!I was one of the lads that John Jenner got into cycling and have to correct you that Moggys surname was actually Harrison not Hilton. We all went to London to watch him race at Eastway against the likes of Merckx, Poulidor & Ocana. A waste of a great talent.

i remember muggy and graham hilton,had a friend graig waterhouse..they all drank in the ring o bells...mooggys sister was sue, she worked at wainwright and wilkinson ....my father was the landlord of ring o bells

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Tom, Dave, Paul and I would like to say thank you to everyone for contributing to this blog in some small way - even if that means just reading it! It's been more of a success than we could ever have dreamt of and that's all down to you ! It was our intention to get Hyde "on the record" as it were and it seems to be heading in the right direction. We are very proud of Hyde and would like it's history to live on!

Hyde Festival Theatre

Two upcoming shows in November at Hyde Festival Theatre are:

Smokey Joe's Cafe, which features the songs of Leiber and Stoller. All the 50's classics, a fun night where the audience can join in!

Sunday Night Fever will be an extravaganza featuring Emmerdale's Bob Hope, who is also bring his own band White Van Man. The surrounding streets will be rocking!

Also in November......

Little Shop Of Horrors by PAP Productions

A Panto in December by Hyde Little Theatre

Next March Hyde Musical Society will be preforming In The Woodswo upcoming shows in November at Hyde Festival Theatre are:Smokey Joe's Cafe, which features the songs of Leiber and Stoller. All the 50's classics, a fun night where the audience can join in!

Sunday Night Fever will be an extravaganza featuring Emmerdale's Bob Hope, who is also bring his own band White Van Man. The surrounding streets will be rocking!